CELEBRATING the holidays would not be complete without the annual broadcast of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This year, the special that shows the “Peanuts” comic strip characters trying to find a spiritual meaning in the holidays is on ABC and comes giftwrapped with exciting additional footage. A series of individually-themed animated stories about the show’s characters, including Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and, of course, Charlie Brown, is included in the one-hour show. Not only can “A Charlie Brown Christmas” rouse even the most dour holiday spirits, it also has one of the best soundtracks ever, courtesy of the late Vince Guaraldi.

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A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Tuesday, 8 p.m., ABC

MUSIC

No longer No. 2

HE may have been a runner-up on “American Idol,” but Clay Aiken has left previous “American Idol” winners in the dust. The only contestant from the Fox reality series to headline his own holiday special, “A Clay Aiken Christmas,” Aiken is hotter than ever, a true pop star. On the special, he will sing selections from his smash new album, “Merry Christmas With Love.” Guests include pop icon Barry Manilow, gospel singer Yolanda Adams and “Will & Grace” sidekick Megan Mullally.

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A CLAY AIKEN CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, 8 p.m., NBC Adams, Aiken and Manilow.

INTERVIEW

Like a Rolling Stone

BOB Dylan has penned some of the most insightful and idiosyncratic songs ever recorded, from political protests like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They are A-Changin'” to the rebellious “It’s All Right, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” to beautiful ballads like “A Simple Twist of Fate.” He’s won an Oscar, a Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement award and this year he published a memoir called “Chronicles, Volume One” that, among other things, revealed his antipathy for some of the more adoring members members of his audience. This Sunday on “60 Minutes,” the self-styled and seldom interviewed enigma of rock talks to Ed Bradley about his life and music.

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60 MINUTES

Sunday, 7 p.m., CBS

COMEDY

Grace-less

BLYTHE Danner is becoming a permanent fixture on television this season. Most recently seen in “Back When We Were Grownups,” a CBS TV movie, Danner is now on “Will & Grace,” where she plays Will’s (Eric McCormack) mother, Marilyn. Marilyn throws a Christmas party and invites Grace (Debra Messing). When Grace breaks one of Marilyn’s precious objets d’art, Will convinces his friend to blame the accident on one of the other guests. Meanwhile, Karen (Megan Mullally) is scolded by her stepdaughter, Olivia, for being bitchier than usual.

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WILL & GRACE

Thursday, 8:30 p.m., NBC

NOSTALGIA

Nanny knows best

WHEN Fran Fine, a Jewish girl from Queens, landed a job in the home of Maxwell Sheffield, a theatrical producer from Britain, it was a study in contrasts. Their story, told from 1993-99 on the CBS sitcom “The Nanny,” brought together two people whose accents and attitudes were worlds apart. Now that the sitcom is in reruns, Lifetime is reuniting the cast, including stars Fran Drescher and Charles Shaughnessy, to talk about the good old days. Prior to the special, Lifetime will air four back-to-back “Nanny” episodes beginning at 5 p.m.

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THE NANNY REUNION: A NOSH TO REMEMBER

Monday, 8 p.m., Lifetime

MOVIE

Finish line

NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt’s story of struggle, daring, triumph and tragedy has been brought to life in ESPN’s ambitious biopic, “3.” The legendary racer, who died behind the wheel in a freak racing accident in 2001, is played by Barry Pepper of “Saving Private Ryan” fame. The movie follows Earnhardt’s life from a hardscrabble upbringing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, where parts of the film were shot, to his victories on the racing circuit in the ’70s and ’80s and at the Daytona super-speedway.